Perturabo: I'll Help You Demolish Your Palace and Rebuild It

Establish

As the Second Legion launched its attack on Hearth-Fortress, Nimrod and Malevolus arrived aboard Stormbird aboard the Tech-Priest's warship, Hammer of Forging. As they disembarked, twelve Servo-skull in the air sang a welcoming hymn.

"Welcome Primarch Nimrod to the Hammer of Forging, Omnissiah protect you."

"..."

Malevolus led the way, walking inward to the chanting of the Servo-skull.

Unlike the Great Sage Rian Ramirez, Malevolus did not possess his own Mechanicus Ark, but as the most outstanding armorsmith, he had crafted armor for several Primarch and owned a cruiser-class warship.

Once the Primarch boarded the warship, it keenly sensed that the entire vessel was like a burning furnace.

He could hear the roar of the machines and feel the heat waves from the furnace...

Led by Malevolus, Nimrod continued onward to the private laboratory of the Tech-Priest.

Upon entering the laboratory, he saw a massive, burning forge that occupied about one-tenth of the entire laboratory area.

Python-like cables connect the steel equipment, and numerous precision instruments are piled up on the central experimental tables...

Malevolus walked to the center of the experimental table. "Lord Nimrod, let's begin."

"Okay," Nimrod walked towards the experimental table, his eyes fixed on the top-quality Leijin Alloy armor delivered from the Longbeard-class Squat Super-Heavy Cruiser.

Malevolus's Mechadendrite were connected to the coupling device of the experimental platform. The Mechanical Arm suspended above reached down, its mechanical fingers spread open, and the mechanical probes at the fingertips slid rapidly across the armor.

The Primarch's eyes flickered, his pupils shimmering with light and shadow. His hands rested on his armor, and Telekinesis flowed into them like threads.

Telekinesis penetrated deep into the armor to analyze and disassemble the Leijin Alloy.

"Moderate density, high ductility, and strong toughness... this part is iron."

"High electrical and thermal conductivity... it's silver."

"..."

"Extremely high density, extremely strong toughness... an unknown metal."

After three standard ship time intervals, Nimrod raised his hand, and the mechanical tentacles stopped moving. He said to the Tech-Priest:

"Of the 514 metals, 238 are unknown and should be mineral deposits unique to the core of the Galaxy."

A flicker of surprise crossed Malevolus's eyes as he thought of the Primarch's incredible abilities, but he quickly regained his composure.

"The alloy's composition is even more peculiar."

While the battle raged fiercely in the underground city of Rosario, Nimrod and Malevolus began their research.

Three weeks after capturing the Longbeard-class Squat Super-Heavy Cruiser, the Tech Sergeant and Honor Guard opened every compartment, but found no Ancestor Shrine on the ship.

Nimrod was slightly disappointed, but not in a hurry. Votann might not be able to get one, but each clan had at least one Ancestor Shrine.

The Emperor and the Council of Terra issued an order to conquer thirty-five star systems, with the goal of acquiring at least one Ancestor Shrine.

Nimrod and Malevolus made significant progress in their research on Leijin Alloy.

This applies not only to the understanding of the Squats 'Leijin Alloy, but also to Malevolus himself.

"My lord, our research has yielded preliminary results; the alloy we've created can enhance the armor's protective capabilities."

"The only thing lacking is the materials for manufacturing the alloy. Some of the unknown metals can be substituted, but there are still 159 that cannot be replaced."

Nimrod saw that Malevolus was looking at him respectfully; the Tech-Priest had already been "Corrosion" by him.

[The Great Sage Rian Ramirez and the Tech-Priest Malevolus are both loyal to me; of the three great talents among the Tech-priest, only Arkan Land Land remains.]

"The Shadow of Order captured twenty-seven warships during the Void War, including a Longbeard-class Squat Super-Heavy Cruiser, on which varying amounts of ore were discovered."

Besides the large quantity of ore, he also made other gains.

While conducting his research, Nimrod examined other items and discovered that a data recording medium used by the dwarves, the Data Guardian Plate, was the main ingredient for the potion "Knowledge Keeper," Sequence 7 of the "White Tower" Pathway.

Upon returning to the Shadow of the Throne, he traveled to the "Nation of Disorder" and commissioned the Space Ape to concoct the "Knowledge Keeper" potion.

Back in the real world, Nimrod summoned Arsena and handed him the blue and white potion.

After drinking the "Knowledge Keeper" potion, Arsena skillfully meditated, gathering his scattered power.

"Thanks be to my Lord for this."

After offering his heartfelt thanks to the Black Emperor for his gift, Arsena began to report.

"My Lord, the Astropath Choir Master tells me that Magnus is expected to arrive in two days from standard ship time, Perturabo in five days."

"I understand." Nimrod nodded.

Five days later, Magnus and Perturabo, each accompanied by their respective legion's senior commanders, landed in the landing zone of the Shadow of the Throne.

Primarch's Attendants, representing the Primarch, waited in the landing zone. Remembering the Black Emperor's instructions, he called out to Perturabo first.

"Lord Perturabo, Lord Magnus, welcome."

Perturabo merely nodded slightly, his expression remaining somber.

Magnus walked toward Arsena with a smile on his face.

"Arsena Dunn, my children have heard that you are an excellent scholar with a large collection of books, and they are very interested in you."

"My lord, Thousand Sons are welcome to visit my private library."

"Let's go," Perturabo said. "Father and the War Council have entrusted command to Nimrod; he must already have a plan."

Magnus detected a hint of dissatisfaction and a touch of resentment in Perturabo's calm tone.

[Does Perturabo want to be the commander of this operation?]

The number of troops from the Eleventh Legion participating in the battle was greater than the combined number of Astartes from my Fourth Legion.

Nimrod had also achieved numerous victories, including the "Wheel of Fire," the Xenos against the Spiral- Morse and the Mitu, and the recapture of Incaladion. The Emperor would certainly appoint Nimrod as commander.

In the Thousand Sons group, Hathor Mhat followed behind the Primarch, walking into the Shadow of the Throne.

He thought excitedly, "Finally, I can see my lord!"

Perturabo entered the palace in Nimrod and immediately frowned; the architectural style of the entire palace made him feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Obsidian, tilted erratically at angles defying mechanics, supports the dome, resembling a damaged building.

Twelve metal rods extending down from the dome, with the flags of each Chapter hanging at their bases, are arranged asymmetrically, three on the left, four on the right, and five in the center.

[Why not four sides: left, center, and right?]

Perturabo clenched his right fist. For a moment, he wanted to stride over, tear down the central flag, and hang it on the left.

He forced himself to look away and at the ground, his brow furrowing even more.

The black jade floor tiles spread asymmetrically in a Fibonacci Sequence with a point spacing.

Perturabo could no longer control himself and strode up to Nimrod.

"Nimrod, if your descendants are unable to build a palace worthy of you, my Iron Warriors can help you."

"I'll draw up a design for you; let's tear it down and rebuild it."